Tag Archives: Zambezi River

I arrived back home to Canada on May 1st. 16lbs lighter in weight but gained a ton in knowledge. You don’t realize how much you can learn about survival, compassion and hard work until you have seen it done with your own eyes. I spent 30 days in Zambia Africa and came home with a renewed zest for what SEEDS is trying to do and confidence that we can do it.

I stayed in a guest house ran by Sister Cathy of the Catholic Church of Zambia, met the famous UBC-O nurses from the Okanagan Valley in British Columbia, Canada, who have been training and learning in the hospital in Mongu and met other NGO’s all trying to do their bit to help.

With such a need for every thing there it is hard not to give. I ran out of money so I ate like they ate (sparsely), I slept with a net over my bed, shared a room with spiders and cock roaches that would put Texas to shame and struggled to get things done in constant heat that burns.

I met the rest of Freddrick’s (our manager) amazing family whom I now call my own, met amazing farmers of all ages and played with the wonderful innocent children whom we are trying to help. We had a hard working crew, lead by Freddrick and I had my little followers who helped me clear up brush and plastic garbage and plant the vegetable garden and trees.

One of my main helpers

my other main helper

planting tree seeds

The first farmer to return tree seeds

making green paint

my duck feather paint brush

Our SEEDS gate painting

My sponsored child who is a young man now

Orphaned Elephants at Lilayi

garbage turned compost

germinating seeds in toilet rolls

soil testing

We even did our Christmas video

One of the better meals I cooked

U.B.C. nurses in Mongu

my room mate

We built the resource garden for farmers complete with drip irrigation and the tree nursery. We even painted a big sign on the gate! I had to make green paint as I could only find black & white and even made my own paint brush out of a duck feather.

In three weeks time, we handed out vegetable seeds from Canada to 12 female and 23 male farmers who lived fairly close (within an hours bike ride) to our Resource Centre. We are tracking the numbers in their families and I guesstimate we provided additional food crops for 350 people . That means we are potentially helping 315 children have a better variety of vegetables.

These crops should harvest in July which is during their dry season when they need the food most. The rainy season starts in October/November and their normal harvest is in January/February/March. Therefore they have to make that harvest last until the next harvest. A long time!

We have computer software to track our results so I will know more as our Assistant Manager Matindo records our stats and reports back to me in Canada.

We even received our first lot of tree seeds that were handed in by a 67 year old female farmer who we then gave a second batch of seeds.

I saw a wild Lion on the side of the road while on the bus in Kafue National Park and the orphaned Elephants at Lilayi.

I am blessed to be able to do this, thanks to the people who have donated funds so far. I raised the $600.00 Canadian dollars which it cost to build the garden and tree nursery and the rest of the money was my own. We still have much more to do and I look forward to a seed full year.

Is a registered Canadian charity # 80157 2736 RR0001. Your contribution is helping SEEDS to operate a seed bank to help the needy become self-supporting in Zambia Africa.

What Exactly Do We Do at SEEDS?

We collect non-GMO vegetable seeds in Toronto Canada, from two catering companies, a banquet hall, a pizza parlor and an organic grocery store and then we dry and package them.

Then we send the vegetable seeds to the people of Zambia, Africa.

Who in exchange gather tree seeds for our local and fruit tree nursery. We plant those trees in communities and also sell to National & Private Game Parks to plant to feed Elephants. The trees will be planted by our local staff and through our Echo-tourism tree planting projects.

If you are interested in coming to Zambia in August 2015 for a week to plant trees and a week at the famous Victoria Falls in Livingstone, one of the 7 wonders of the world, email joanne@sendseedstoafrica.org and put eco-tourism in the subject line.

We are currently sending seeds and “How to Grow” binders to connections in five cities in Zambia and have established relationships with governments and other echo-tourism establishments to provide trees to them.

Your contribution is helping SEEDS to operate a seed bank to help the needy become self-supporting in Zambia Africa. By providing the vegetable seeds, people are able to plant, grow, eat and save their own seed. They may sell the fruits of their labours or eat a healthier diet themselves.

It is through donations such as yours that SEEDS has sent almost 3.5 million seeds to Zambia.

We have assembled a team in Canada and Zambia whose sole vision is to protect the environment for the benefit of the public by conserving ecosystems or restoring ecosystems and bio-diversity on a long-term basis. We are helping people to grow a better variety of vegetables, earn a bit of extra income by selling the excess, and selling trees to National & Private Game Parks to plant to feed Elephants and reforest local communities.

You are helping to raise funds, which help these programs immediately as we send vegetable seeds every two months. We provide “How to Grow” handouts for all of the seeds, both the seeds we send and the tree seeds they provide. It is our goal to grow trees for, food, shade, fuel, fertilizer and erosion control of the soil. We stress that the soil is the key to healthy plants so we teach “How to make a compost pit” which is so most important to replenish the soil.

Thus providing all the many benefits of trees and food to the marginalized peoples and elephants of Zambia.

The purpose of this web site is to provide environmental ideas, “How to Grow”instructions and hope to Zambian people.

I have purposely left the “How to Grow “instructions for our Western Climates in the instructions so anyone can grow any of the seeds listed on this site. Maybe you would like to start saving your own seed?

Give it a try and let us know how it goes!

Tip:For a more detailed version. Download the printer-friendly version here.

If you” click “to follow it you will get an email sent to you every time I write a blog.

We have many things in the works for 2014 and I hope you will join our adventure.

I am very excited as I was able to get a really good price on a flight to Zambia for the whole month of April in 2014.

I will be taking seeds and growing instructions to my connections in Lusaka, Chipata, Kaoma, Mongu and Kalabo, Zambia.

I started packing in Dec.2013. I have a binder with planting and growing instructions for each area. I can’t wait.

I hope to build the enclosure for seedlings in the tree nursery, choose the sites to allow the trees to get big and set out the plan for the whole year. This photo is courtesy of Ripple Africa.org in Malawi. They have been a big help to me. Thank you Ripple Africa!

The following list is an example of the seeds I am sending to each of my four connections.

Note: it is best to let seed pods dry completely on the plant before picking seeds

STORE BOUGHT- I bought packaged seeds at the end of our planting season last July 2013 for 25 cents per package. I emailed the company and they confirmed they do not carry GMO seeds so they are good to send.

1 pkg-Bush beans, will grow like a small bush

2 pkgs-Broccoli, likes cooler weather, plant in winter

2 pkgs-carrots, will go to seed second year in ground

2 pkgs-Cabbage, also likes cooler weather

2 pkgs cauliflower, also prefers cool weather

1 pkg-cayenne(hot) pepper, good to grow around garden to keep out animals

2 pkgs-radish, quick growing, eat when young so not too hot, but let some go to seed.

2 pkgs-spinach,

2 pkgs-lettuce

1 pkg -red bell pepper

2 pkgs-tomatoes

1pkg-cucumber, mound soil

2 pkgs-peas, plant near cauliflower as it likes nitrogen

1 pkg- Italian parsley, good for soups, will keep growing and go to seed if you just pick leaves

1 pkg-dill, good herb with fish or pickling vegetables, will also go to seed

HOME GROWN- from my garden or locally grown in Ontario where ever possible.

Amounts are approximate:

3000-Sweet pepper seeds, not sure if they will grow, please let me know

2 peach pits, worth a try as they grow in SA.

20 watermelon seeds, hard to get in Canada

150 butternut squash, likes cooler weather

200 pumpkin seeds

200 yellow zucchini

20 pole beans, will grow up 8 feet tall, see trellis building instructions

Fredrick has finally got the computer and printer set up. I sent him the money to buy a computer so I could send him articles and instructions of how to grow many things. It probably would have been less expensive and a newer computer if I had bought it here but it was going to cost me more to send it than purchasing the computer.

He has printed off the step by step instructions on how to make a compost pit in a hot climate like Zambia. They certainly don’t waste anything over there as all of the food scraps, if there are any, would go to the dogs, chickens, oxen or cattle.

This is a chicken proof stand to grow seedlings. Note the roof over head to give some relief from the hot sun and the chickens cannot steal the young plants.

This picture is compliments of Ripple Africa and so is the composting process which Fredrick is using in Zambia.

COMPOST MAKING

• Compost: Compost needs to be made in April so that it is ready for tube filling in June

( compost can be ready for use in six weeks). Typically, compost should be made in pits

– a pit of 2 metres( 6 1/2 ft.) long by 1 metre (3 ¼ ft) wide and I metre ( 3 ¼ ft) deep will produce enough compost for up to 8,000 small polythene tubes.

• Compost making process: The first layer in the bottom of the pit is 10cm (4 inches) of forest or dambo soil. The second layer is 10cm (4 inches) of leaves or grass which should be compacted by walking on top of it. The third layer is 10 cm (4 inches) of manure. Except for the first layer, each layer should be watered with three watering cans of water before adding the next layer. These layers are then repeated in the same order until the pit is full. Normally. There will be three layers of each material in a 1 metre deep pit. The compost pit should be completed with a final 10cm (4inches) layer of soil which is compacted by walking on it, and the finished compost heap should be the same level as the surrounding ground.

Compost Layers

Final Layer- Dambo or forest soil 10cm

Manure 10cm

Leaves/grass 10cm

Dambo or forest soil 10cm

Manure 10cm

Leaves/grass 10cm

Dambo or forest soil 10cm

Manure 10cm

Leaves/grass 10 cm

Dambo or forest soil 10cm

Tube filling mix

Dambo soil 2 parts

Compost 2 parts

Sand 1 part

Compost provides the nutrients for the tree seedlings and vegetable seeds. This picture is also from Ripple Africa.org.

Here is a little video I have done from footage in Zambia when we were there in August 2012.

I was trying to relate this video to The Silozi Seed Bank and Trees for Elephants but was not thinking I would be making a short film when I was there so I am limited with my choice of footage.

Obviously the Elephants are my love and I think will keep tourism in Africa. If we can grow trees to sell to private and National parks, maybe we can save the Elephants, reforest the land, reduce erosion and create an income for the people.

There are no Elephants in Kalabo or Liuwa Plains National Park so it is a perfect place to grow the trees that Elephants love to eat. We will also grow chilies to sell as chilies are a deterrent to elephants raiding gardens.

Millions of acres of grasslands are burnt in Africa to kill ticks and encourage new growth for their cattle but it has devastating effects by putting carbon into the atmosphere and drying up the earth so natural watering holes are reduced. A more holistic approach is needed by mulching the grass and using it with cow manure to replenish the soil instead of burning off all of the goodness. It is hard work turning soil by hand to make a garden.

It is also necessary to plant gardens in areas close to water. People will walk miles to plant gardens and set up grass huts to live in while the gardens grow. Sweet potatoes grow well in Zambia.

This is a 1.17 minute piece of the road that took us 7 hours to cross from Mongu to Kalabo. We had a 4×4 CRV but it was low and we got stuck twice. Construction on this road started in 2011 and once completed will allow easier access from Mongu to Kalabo and even on to Angola. This new traffic will increase trade and commerce for the area.

And finally the children. I hope that The Silozi Seed Bank will bring fresh vegetables to many villages so they will have better variety and nutrition for all.

This blog is to tell you all about two new co-operative projects I have started.

The Silozi Seed Bank and Trees for Elephants.

I thought of the Trees For Elephants idea in August 2011 when I went to Zambia the first time and The Silozi Seed Bank this winter.

Since May 2011, I have been saving and drying seeds out of the vegetables I purchase for personal use. I have saved all pepper seeds, both hot & sweet, pumpkin, squash, tomatoe, all herbs, avacado and my latest trial seeds are pomegranate, plum, olive and date pits. Basically anything that will grow in hot climates.

How many of you remember saving, or still do save, the tops of pop cans to buy someone a wheelchair. Well if you would, I would really appreciate it if you could dry and save seeds for me to take to Kalabo, Zambia. Also if you have any unused, return utility envelopes and washed out clear milk bags I need those as well.

Here is how it will work!

The Silozi Seed bank partners ( meaning you) will collect seeds, unused utility bill envelopes and washed used milk bags. Approximately 100 seeds will be handed out to each participant( Villager). Interest paid on those seeds will be 50 seeds.When interest is paid participants will receive 100 more seeds for planting. Participants must also attend a training session on cultivating, drying and propagating seeds for year round growth. Interest seeds may be from vegetables grown by participants or from fallen tree seeds around their compounds.(note: each green pepper has approximately 250 seeds).

I am hoping to start a Silozi Seed Bank mobile unit as well to reach those participants in rural areas and schedule revisits according to projected harvest.

Colalife, in Zambia has a wonderful idea to deliver Zinc Aid Pods to remote areas by utilizing the Coca Cola delivery people. There is a huge incidence of child mortality due to diarrhea in Zambia and Zinc and a salt/sugar combination will easily combat the diarrhea.These Aid Pods fit perfectly in between the coca cola bottles in the red crates. Check out their web site http://www.colalife.org.

I am hoping that I may squeeze a few seed packages of peppers into their Aid pods as they are high in vitamin A & C to help prevent blindness but that is a whole other story.

This is where Trees for Elephants comes in.

The tree seeds collected will then be used for the Trees for Elephants Program & Nursery.

Chaminuka Aug.2011

Note the damage done to the trees by the Elephants.

Private Game parks have to take their Elephants to designated areas to eat the trees so they can monitor the losses.

I would like to have local people collect seeds of any trees but in particular the trees that Elephants eat.

Acacia

Sausage Tree

Baobab

Mukusi:

Mupapa:

Muwaka:

Musompa:

Kayimbi:

Mululu:

Mukwa:

Mango

Paw Paw ( papaya)

Marula

Neem

Jatropha

Moringa

I would like the villagers to collect ONLY the fallen seeds from around their compounds.

I will provide growing containers (where possible milk cartons), training and fertilizing techniques for the villagers to grow these seeds. Say 20 trees per family unit. I would also encourage them to plant trees in their own villages for shade to help stop global warming.

I will trade these seedlings with the villagers for vegetable seeds (The Silozi Seed Bank) and reissue containers to start the process over again.

I will then sell these potted trees to National Parks, Private Game Reserves and any tree planting organizations like Greenpop.org in order to sustain the program and cover costs of containers and distribution.

I will set up local people to run the program and just supervise the project via email and yearly visits to replenish the vegetable seeds. I know the seeds will grow there as I found out from Njamba’s family when Carl & I went in Aug. 2012.

I have many great contacts now in Kalabo to get this project up and running.

Western province has the highest poverty levels in Zambia. About 80% of the population in the province is regarded as being poor and at least 70% of those in the poor category are women. Kalabo, 75km west of the capital city Mongu, is basically cut off from Mongu except by water from November to May due to heavy rains which flood the Zambezi River onto the Barotse Flood Plains. November to January are lean months. Stored produce from the previous growing season is almost used up and in any case would need to be transported during the rainy season, while the new season’s crops and grasses are not yet productive, and at the same time fishing stops for the spawning season. Hunting and trapping animals, which might have filled the gap, is no longer available to most people, and trapping water birds is one of the few alternatives to buying flour.

In Zambia private Game Reserves and National Parks have declining numbers of trees to support Elephants. In Zambia I was told by a local that if there is not enough bush to support an Elephant, then they shoot the elephant.

If we can start to grow trees now maybe we can save the Elephant, create local economic trade and ensure tourist income for Africa.

Note: There are no elephants in Kalabo so there is no risk of the seedlings being eaten prior to transport.

I would also like to grow chilies to sell due to the fact that if planted around vegetable gardens they are a deterrent to elephants who raid gardens.

I am very fortunate to have found a new partner, Ellena Andoniou.

Ellena is currently a PhD candidate focusing on Global Health and Development and has an abundance of field experience planning, implementing and coordinating community-based probiotic food projects in Tanzania and Kenya. She has an extensive background in HIV/AIDS, nutrition, community health, capacity building, community mobilization and project management. Her research has allowed her to work closely with the National Institute for Medical Research in Tanzania, The Kenya Medical Research Institute, and other development and health-care organizations in the region.

Here are some more innovative ideas that I will let you know about in future blogs.

Use old world technologies to produce food year round and give incentive to plant trees which also benefit the environment

-grass covered fencing to grow seedlings

-build hand made brick water cisterns as done in Greece using gravity and a spigot not a pump to get water

-use fish feces as fertilizer, aquaponics.

-make clay toilet foot stands and when removed plant a tree in that spot

The extra income and variety of seeds will improve health, overall well being to the people of Kalabo and these models could potentially be used in many parts of Africa.

So if you have any seeds, envelopes and or milk bags, please let me know by leaving a comment and I will make arrangements to pick them up.

I have saved at least 5000 seeds this winter so far.

Keep warm and thanks, Joanne

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It is -19 degrees Celsius outside and probably -25 with the wind chill.

But when I come into my office I see the pictures of Africa on my 17″ screen saver and feel warm.

It has been quite a while since I have written a blog but it is time.

I thought I had accomplished what I had set out to do by paying for Njamba and his brother Kufuku ( Brian as he calls himself in the final video). I felt relieved and told Carl that I didn’t feel the need to go back to Kalabo. Then on the 25 hour flight home I couldn’t help thinking about building a school there. I spent those hours drawing up the plans.

I know, you probably think I am crazy. Carl did at first but he knows me.

My thinking is that once they build the road from Mongu to Kalabo there will be more traffic to Kalabo and even on to the now stable Angola. Angola has a plethora of natural resources just waiting to be cultivated.

Why not open a hospitality/trade school in Kalabo to teach people how to accommodate all of that traffic. That is what I know best. I was in the restaurant business for 20 years. The people there need to learn a skill to be self sufficient and they are keen to learn.

I am presently waiting to hear from the Ministry of Education in Zambia to see if I can open K.H.A.T.S ( Kalabo Hospitality And Trade School ) in the under used existing Kalabo High School.

I have attached the ROUGH draft of my plans and they keep growing. I am making great connections with people who may help this new dream come true.

Have a read if you like and let me know what you think.

If you know anyone who would like to help with this project I am all ears.

I am still not sure of the exact names for the non profit or the school/s so these may change.

This is what I sent to Fredrick as he will be the Head Master of the school.

We may also plan to have a lumber mill and send the students to work at the mill.

This is not my area or expertise so I will leave that to you Frederick to look into what we would need and what the start up costs would be.

The only thing I request if we cut trees to mill that we plant two for every one we cut down.

This is the basic plan that I am sure will grow as we think of things we could do.

As I said before it will not happen quickly.

We have to get you a computer so you and I can communicate more easily.

I can get one in Canada for about $450.00 CND or 2.5 million KW but it will cost me $621.00CND or 3.2 million KW approximately to send it by DHL.

Therefore I don’t know if it is better to just wire you the money and you can buy a decent one that works well.

I have to raise the money to do that. I only work part time and I have lost some work recently. I just applied for three positions yesterday so maybe something will come up.

I also have to look into how to start a Non Profit Organization. I will let you know how that goes. Apparently I need a board of directors and they will make all of the decisions.

I hope you and your family are well!

All the best

Joanne

PS. If you can think of a better name for the Non profit organization I would be happy to hear it. Maybe some thing with Barotseland, Western Province or Silozi?

Additional Thoughts

-we could make a brick coal or wood oven to bake bread etc.

Arts & Crafts

-we will need to make our own signs

• Market days & times

• Retail store

• Boat and bus to market

• Furniture for sale

• Class room signs

-we can make guava jam, peanut butter and mango chutney

-make cotton mattresses for the beds

-make candles & holders

-bags for people to carry what they purchase

-people can trade goods for product ie food, fish, etc.

The trees that elephants eat.

I know you must think I am crazy but we need to start all the villages west of Mongu planting the trees that elephants eat.

If we put them in pots and when they are about 1 foot high we can take them and sell them to all of the private safari lodges and National Parks who have elephants and plant them in an area that has been stripped of trees.

With out elephants you don’t have tourism.

Western Province does not have elephants west of Mongu so the trees would be safe from Elephants stealing them.

If you plant hot peppers near the trees you are trying to grow the elephants will stay away as they don’t like hot peppers. We can sell them too.

So Frederick we need to start collecting the seeds NOW to plant these trees.

Lumber Mill

Carl thinks it would be best to have a portable mill but this will only do shorter pieces of wood less than 20 feet long. That way we can keep the mill safe by the school and take orders for wood.

We have to look into this because the wood has to age/cure after it is cut so it will not warp. It will probably be faster in Zambia because it is dry there in winter. We will also need a storage facility to keep it dry in the rainy season. Lots to plan, research and think about!

In Canada a portable saw mill costs approximately $23000.00. It is best to fell the trees from December to Feb when it is cold so the sap is down in the roots and then the trees dry more quickly.

Then you mill them in March & April and they cure and are ready to use in July –November.

I have been in touch with Fredrick by text but it is hard to plan a school that way.

As Carl says” You cannot go to Zambia without going to Victoria Falls. It is one of the seven wonders of the world.”

So for my final blog of this series, I give you Victoria Falls. This picture does not do it justice, it is only one section, but I want you to go there and see it for yourselves.

We took what is supposed to be the six hour bus ride from Lusaka to Livingstone, but we didn’t book with Mazhandu Family Bus Services and the bus ride was not air conditioned and it took longer. So keep that in mind you future fellow travelers. Mazhandu is the way to go and you have to buy your ticket the day before.

We arrived at Green Tree Lodge which was under new management. It was great the year before but even better this year with Andrew and his wife Victoria. Andrew is a trained chef. The food and accomodation were excellent and it is reasonably priced. Well worth the visit!You can check out their web site and I recommend booking directly with them.

Carl & I went to the Livingstone museum, recomended by Andrew which was also worth the visit and then went to the Falls. The day we were there The Boys Brigade from the Catholic Church of Zambia were there by the hundreds.

They asked me if I would be in their photographs and so Carl & I stood for at least 1/2 hour while they jumped in individually and took our pictures all the while switching their cameras. Then I asked if they sang. They said yes and this is what I taped. Click to watch the video if you received this by email it will go online.

The next day we went on an Elephant ride, a chance of a life time and we both loved it. We bought the video that they did of us and the whole group and I will treasure it always. We were riding Bop who is 56 years old. All of the Elephants are rescues and are very well taken care of and for me to say that and not feel sorry for them is a miracle.